It was a special day. All the children were dressed in their best clothes, acting all cutesy and innocent.

Ishan was also excited, shouting everywhere that this time his parents will be coming to take him back finally.

Well talking about Ishan, Shubman had gotten this weird obsession of staring at him everytime. Whatever that kid was doing Shubman would be staring at him. This habit started because Shubman would always be lying alone on his bed all the time and seeing him alone Ishan would run to him, sharing his toys, his food and things.

Everything he had at that moment, he would just ask if Shubman wanted it, just to make him smile.

Shubman would act indifferent but from inside he would grinning at his behavior. And would take glances at him whenever he was busy with something else.

One thing Shubman realized was that Ishan would always love to help the elders just to hear "good boy" from them. Most of the miss loved him and the warden also had a soft spot for him.

What they all didn't noticed was the silly pranks Ishan would do to whoever bullies him. Those pranks didn't hurt anyone but still gave a good laugh to Ishan.

He was a mischievous little kid.

Right now as well, he was jumping on his bed.

"Can you stop it? Because of you, my bed is shaking as well." Shubman growled making Ishan pout and sit down while muttering a soft sorry.

Shubman's bed wasn't shaking. He was just worried the kid will end up hurting himself. But he won't accept it. After all he hate this orphanage and all the children.

"Shubman are you not going to change your clothes honey? Wear something more sophisticated, the elders live it when children are dressed up." One of the miss said coming to him.

"This special day isn't for me, all the couples coming to look for a child won't  be choosing a 10 year old. They will be going for those 1-2 years old or maybe till 5-6 years old but nobody after that." Shubman scoffed.

"It's not like that honey, Ishan why don't you tell him the story of the bhaiya who shared the bed with you for a month." She said pulling Ishan in her arms.

"Yes! Raj bhaiya were 15 yrs old and were just here for a month he got adopted within a month. Miss is right, if you are a good boy you will get par—"

"Abe oh chutku chup hoja, Shubman is right. Nobody adopts the children above 5-6 years. Raj bhaiya was exception because one of his relatives got a change of heart so they adopted him back right away. This good boy and bad boy things is just the lie warden says to discipline us." One of the boy scoffed.
[Shut up kiddo]

"Miss don't worry I trust you and warden. They are not good boys so they don't know the truth," Ishan said hugging the woman with his chubby hands.

"Yeah they don't know the truth," She gave a half hearted smile to Ishan hugging him back. She didn't wanted to break the child's delusion. After all Ishan was such a good baby.

"Should I help you in changing your mattress? When your mom will come she would love it seeing you bed all tidy," She told Ishan who nodded eagerly.

"Mumma loves bear, can we put that bear bedsheet?" Ishan chirped getting off from her.

"Ofcourse baby, let me get the bear bedsheet." She cooed walking away.

Ishan grinned while hugging his crocodile stuff toy. He was sure this time his mother would come.

---

His mother didn't came. There had been so many groups of couples coming to their room. Everyone picking a boy they like, playing with him and two children even where chosen.

It was a good visit, except for Ishan because it was the last group of the day or for the month you could say and his parents didn't came back this month too.

Maybe he wasn't a good boy this time. Next time he will try harder. He was promised they will come back if Ishan continued to be a good boy for the elders. His family is testing him. Ishan will show them he would be the best son.

He slumped back onto his bed hugging his Mr Crocodile.

"Honey look at this cute baby," A young woman, probably in her mid thirties murmured to her husband.

"Weren't we going to adopt the infants though?" The husband raised his eyebrow.

"I know but look at this cute little kid. I already feel drawn to him. Please atleast just talk with him," She whined tugging her husband's arm who reluctantly walked towards Ishan.

Ishan wasn't asleep he was just laying down. When the couple went towards them he looked at the woman through his wide bambi eyes.

"Hello little munchkin," She cooed raising her hand towards Ishan who starrd at her for a second before taking her hand.

She giggled when Ishan gave her a hifi.

"Aww such a cute baby you are, can you hug me?" She said and Ishan nodded going to her arms. She quickly pulled the boy to her lap swinging him.

"He is really cute," The husband chuckled booping Ishan's nose.

Ishan grinned loving the attention they both were giving him.

"What's your age champ?" He asked pinching Ishan's chubby cheeks.

"I am four and Mr Croco is two years old," Ishan said showing the crocodile stuff in his arms.

"Aww look at Mr Croco we love Mr Croco as well," He chuckled.

"Honey, I really feel he is the one for us." The woman said and the husband nodded his head.

"Yeah I think so too babe, I can even picture him teaching him to ride bicycle." He smiled widely.

"I know how to ride bicycle," Ishan said puffing his cheeks.

"Aww really, will you show us how you ride the bicycle?" The husband said pulling Ishan in his lap.

"Ofcourse, I can even ride it with Mr Croco sitting with me." Ishan grinned.

"Ohh what a pleasant view, do you like the boy?" The warden hummed walking towards the couple.

"Yeah we think we do, what's his name?"

"He is Ishan and let me tell you, you really have a good eye. Ishan is just four years old but you know he can bath alone and even go to washroom all by himself and could clean his bottom after the deed as well."

"Ahh really?" The woman's eyes lit up while her husband played with Ishan who was laughing hardly because of the tickling attack.

"Yeah, you know he had been here since 7-8 months, he was merely 3 years old but since the moment he came here he has never ever peed on the bed. At starting he would always ask one of the miss to take him to washroom as he was new but later on he doesn't required anybody to accompany him. He doesn't even throw any tantrum, just a bit mischievous but if kids won't have fun then who will?" The warden grinned.

"He can bath alone, and is potty trained as well. What else should we even expect from a 4 year old kid? To go to work huh? He already is mature for his age. I think he deserves a family to preserve his childhood," The woman said.

"Sure, if you both are interested to adopt him we can get done with the procedure." The warden smiled.

"Adopt? No no I have parents," Ishan muttered realising the couple were going to adopt him.

"Huh?" The couple furrowed their eyebrows.

"Ahh no no Ishan. They are going to keep you temporarily till your parents come. Just like you are staying here, but you will be staying in a house, with a better and loving family till your parents come back." The warden quickly shushed Ishan.

"What?" The husband looked at the warden.

"Please come aside, SUSAN TAKE CARE OF ISHAN FOR A SECOND." The warden yelled pulling the couple aside for a second.

"You see, his parents died in a car crash. His aunt sent him here by telling him to be a good boy till his parents get well. If he will be a good boy then his parents will come and take him back soon. We didn't had the heart to tell him the truth and break the poor child's heart. He had been through enough trauma already,"

"He isn't aware his parents are never coming back?"

"No but it doesn't have to be told yet. You can form a bond with him, when he will grow older he will realise it by himself."

"I am sorry but I don't think we can take care of a child who wouldn't think of us as his parents. There are many other children who would like for us to be their parents. Surely Ishan deserves love and care of a family, he deeerves to be healed from this trauma but we don't think so we would be fit enough to take care of his mental trauma. We will look for the infants instead," He muttered.

"You can give a chance to the boy. He really is a good kid. If you want we will tell him the truth—"

"No, this might turn him rebellious. See its just we want a normal child for our normal family, just a child who doesn't suffer from any past incident or anything. We don't want any depressed kid or something." The husband said walking away. His wife looked at the warden apologetically before walking away herself.

Shubman scoffed seeing the commotion from the upper bunk bed. Ofcourse nobody would love them. Why would someone want to take care of orphans like them?

Ishan wasn't mature. He was rather dumb to think his parents would ever come. Acting all good would lead you nowhere. You would always have to fight the world and be selfish.

---

Shubman sighed rubbing his face. It was 10 pm currently. Aisha, had also left a few minutes earlier. There were still so many documents left to rectify.

He looked at Ishan who was sleeping on his chair. He was hugging himself.

Was Ishan feeling cold? Shubman quickly looked for the remote turning off the ac.

"His face is fine, but his hands are freezing." Shubman muttered checking his hands. He removed his blazer putting it on Ishan like a blanket.

"Just a few minutes love then I will take you home." Shubman smiled pecking his face.

Ishan was still like the innocent little kid Shubman loved.

---

A/N - I might give a double update today.